The Patuxent River Naval Air Museum is hosting is next MEET THE AIRPLANE! event this coming Saturday, 20 April 2013. In celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, this event is spotlighting our oldest aircraft on the flight line. The F4D, a Douglas Delta wing fighter. Our panel of F4D specialists includes Mark Frankel author of KILLER RAYS, Specialty Press 2010. He will be available all day to sign copies of his book.

In his review of KILLER RAYS by Mark Frankel, Dan Capps describes the F4D as "Yet another product from the team led by Chief Designer Ed Heinemann at Douglas Aircraft, the F4D-officially the "Skyray" but known to those who flew and maintained it as the "Ford" (nothing to do with the car but the "Four" and "D" of its designation)-was the first of the Naval carrier jet fighters to really give the land-based Air Force jets a run for their money. That the Skyray was the first carrier aircraft to hold the world speed record, a feat the XF4D-1 accomplished in October 1953, gives some indication as to its potential."

To create his book, Mark Frankel accessed a wealth of Douglas Aircraft photos, models, artwork, engineering drawings, and related material, including transcripts of conversations with Chief Designer Ed Heinemann and Configuration Engineer R.G. Smith.

Did you know that the PRNAM has several original R.G. Smith Paintings? Come in on 20 April and take a close look at these outstanding F4D images. R.G. Smith's work is so highly regarded in military circles that in 1973 he was designated by the United States Navy "Honorary Naval Aviator" (number 10), Our own local Artist, Hank Caruso, "Honorary Naval Aviator" (number 27) will be on hand to talk art, talk airplanes, and to lead our panel of specialists in a discussion of the F4D (aka ford).